Raiders QB Aidan O'Connell AP Photo/John Locher

Raiders Rumors: Latest Buzz, Players to Watch at Mandatory Minicamp

Kristopher Knox

The Las Vegas Raiders have made several notable roster changes this offseason, with players such as Jakobi Meyers, Jimmy Garoppolo, Marcus Epps, Tyree Wilson and Michael Mayer coming in to replace former starters and key contributors.

Las Vegas has a lot to accomplish this summer, and the offseason program is chugging right along. The latest round of organized team activities (OTAs) wrapped on Friday, and mandatory minicamp is slated to kick off this Tuesday.

Position battles won't begin in earnest just yet, but OTAs and minicamps can provide a preview of what's in store during training camp.

There will be no shortage of storylines to follow in the coming days, so let's take a look at some of the latest buzz from the Raiders offseason.

Raiders Not Concerned About Jimmy Garoppolo

Jimmy Garoppolo Ethan Miller/Getty Images

The biggest storyline for the Raiders right now involves the health of Garoppolo.

Information recently came to light that the foot injury the quarterback sustained last season with the San Francisco 49ers required a wavier because, according to ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio, he would not have passed a physical.

That's clearly a concern for fans, since Garoppolo is supposed to be the steady starter who leads the offense in 2023. But head coach Josh McDaniels isn't as concerned about his ability to be ready for the regular season.

"I have no anxiety," he told reporters. "You guys may have anxiety. I have no anxiety."

Regardless of how the Raiders feel about Garoppolo, it'll be worth watching the team's other QBs—journeyman Brian Hoyer, Chase Garbers and rookie fourth-round pick Aidan O'Connell—during minicamp.

There's a very real chance one of them is tasked with starting at some point in the 2023 season. Even if Garoppolo is on the field for Week 1, he has a lengthy injury history—he has played 15 or more games in a season only twice—and cannot be counted on to stay healthy for all 17 games.

Las Vegas' competition to be the "backup" quarterback will be more important than it is for other franchises.

Jakobi Meyers Could Be Big Part of Offense This Season

Jakobi Meyers Ethan Miller/Getty Images

While fans are unlikely to get a look at Garoppolo during minicamp, they should be following another former New England Patriots standout: Jakobi Meyers.

The 26-year-old should step in as the No. 2 receiver opposite star Davante Adams. He served as the de facto WR1 in New England last year and fared well. He led the Pats with 804 receiving yards and six touchdowns while providing a passer rating of 116.0 when targeted.

For context, New England quarterbacks had a collective 87.7 quarterback rating on all passes in 2022.

However, Adams believes Meyers can be even more productive in McDaniels' offense.

"I didn't see him featured as much as maybe he should have been based on what I saw when [the Patriots] came here and we practiced against them," he said, per Case Keefer of the Las Vegas Sun. "...He's got a lot of tools on the field, and the way he thinks about the game as a relatively young player is impressive to me, so I'm excited to work alongside him."

Working alongside Adams, who frequently draws double coverage, should open up opportunities for Meyers as a second go-to target. Fans probably won't see any advanced concepts from McDaniels' playbook during minicamp, but they should get an early look at the talented receiver tandem.

Minicamp Could Give Zamir White Chance to Shine

Zamir White Chris Unger/Getty Images

Running back Zamir White was a fourth-round draft pick last year but didn't see much action during the regular season. Las Vegas leaned heavily into Josh Jacobs as an every-down back, and White finished with a mere 40 offensive snaps.

However, we might not see Jacobs at minicamp. The 2022 rushing leader was given the franchise tag this offseason and was not at last month's OTAs, according to Gutierrez. That's not surprising since Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported in April that the 25-year-old was among the league's franchise-tagged stars who wouldn't attend the early offseason program.

Jacobs was also absent for the start of last year's minicamp, and until/unless he signs his franchise-tag tender, he technically isn't under contract and won't have to attend this year.

This should open the door for backs like White, Ameer Abdullah and Brandon Bolden to show what they can do during minicamp. Those backs will be worth watching because they may eventually play big roles in Las Vegas' backfield.

We may not see Jacobs hold out into the regular season, but if he isn't granted a long-term extension before the July 17 deadline, this could be his final season in Las Vegas.

White is the top candidate among the Raiders' other backs to be a future fixture in the offense after this season.

*Advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference.

   

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